Western CUNA Management School Celebrates Streifel, NW Graduates

Woodstoneâ€™s Susan Streifel was recognized with the Jim Likens Alumni Award, while 13 NW professionals were part of the Class of 2011.

July 26, 2011

Sunny Pomona, Calif., was the location for celebrations last week as Western CUNA Management School matriculated another class of credit union professionals in a ceremony headlined by CUNA President Bill Cheney.

Thirteen Northwest credit union professionals became the newest alumni of the school, joining a distinct group who lead credit unions and affiliate organizations across the country.

It was a particularly special ceremony as Susan Streifel, CEO of Woodstone Credit Union, Federal Way, Wash., was recognized with the Jim Likens Alumni Award for her significant achievements in the credit union field.

Streifel, who graduated from the Pomona-based school in 1993, was humbled by the award.

“I do what I do because I think it’s the right thing at that point in time,” she said. “I don’t really don’t look back at how it all adds up, so I’m just very humbled.”

She was completely surprised that her staff and board had nominated her. “I work with some very sneaky people,” joked Streifel.

Her nomination cited that Streifel’s “commitment to not only the credit union where she is employed but the credit union movement as a whole has been evident to those who interact with her.”

This is certainly fitting for someone who served and chaired innumerable committees at CUNA and the Northwest Credit Union Association and its predecessor. Streifel was elected to the CUNA Board in 2007. In 2008, she was appointed to the Awards and Governmental Affairs Committees of the CUNA Board and was elected to the CUNA Executive Committee in 2010.

Streifel is the fourth Northwest credit union professional to be recognized with the Likens Award—Ava Milosevich (’07), Joanne LeCouvre Kersey (’03) and Association CEO John Annaloro (’02).

WCMS Class of 2011, NW Graduates

Cheryl

Eveatt

Castparts Employees FCU

Oregon

Helen

Funk

Rogue FCU

Oregon

Chad

Warneke

Oregonians CU

Oregon

Maria

Zarate

KaiPerm NW FCU

Oregon

Kari

Adams

Great NorthWest FCU

Washington

Joseph

Amrine

Fibre FCU

Washington

Clarence

Anderson

Blue Mountain CU

Washington

George

Bluhm

Port of Seattle FCU

Washington

Deonne Lynn

Edwards

Kitsap CU

Washington

Ynette

Gibbs

Newrizon FCU

Washington

Norma

Lolita Hernandez

Express CU

Washington

Eric

Petracca

Lacamas Community CU

Washington

Corina

Ruiz-Buren

Pacific NW Iron Workers FCU

Washington

Fourteen students attended WCMS this year because of scholarships through the Oregon and Washington Credit Union Foundations.

"Before arriving at WCMS, I was a skeptic,” said first year WCMS student Rich Scholes of Rogue FCU. “After year one, I am a champion. It condenses months of learning, relationship building, and personal growth into two weeks of connecting with hundreds of smart, passionate leaders. The foundations’ generous scholarship made it possible. Thank you."